Ethics & Corruption

Obama Center Opens The Doors as Subcontractors Say Invoices Remain Unpaid

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:47:54 -0400

Several union trade contractors say they have not been paid for their work on the Obama Presidential Center project in Chicago.

Subcontractors Ordered to Pay Record $1.28M in Minnesota Wage Theft Case

manniona@enr.com (Annemarie Mannion) — Wed, 13 May 2026 15:43:36 -0400

Two subcontractors have been ordered to pay $1.3-million in back wages to 26 workers in Minnesota.

White House Ballroom Contractor Wins $17.4M 'Sole-Source' Park Contract

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:27:54 -0400

A sole-source Lafayette Park contract tied to the White House ballroom project is drawing scrutiny amid a security incident that intensifies the push to build it.

Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Resigns Amid Probe, Shifting Oversight of Safety, Wages

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:04:33 -0400

Resignation comes amid a misconduct probe, leaving contractors, unions and public owners watching for shifts in policy.

Family Remembers Welder’s Spark for Skilled Trades Career

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -0400

Minnesota welder Amber M. Czech had barely launched what seemed a promising career in the skilled trades before a co-worker cut her life short last year at age 20.

Athens, Ohio, Claws Back Half of $700,000+ Phished Away in Cyber Fraud

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 14:38:00 -0400

Alleged perpetrators described as 'Air Force members.'

Caterpillar Challenges Doosan Bobcat Patent Lawsuit, Alleges Industrial Espionage

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:13:05 -0400

Caterpillar has responded to a lawsuit from Doosan Bobcat alleging it infringed on 14 patents for everything from machine controls to energy management. Cat asserts that it was in fact Bobcat that reverse-engineered its technology through a "competitive intelligence program."

Defense Suppliers Settle $10.5M False Claims Case Tied to Navy Shipbuilding Supply Chain

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:24:40 -0400

A $10.5 million DOJ settlement over weld tables reveals deeper risks inside the Navy’s strained submarine supply chain—what does it signal for shipbuilding capacity?

Buffalo, NY Stadium Work Resumes After Suspects ID'ed in $150K Graffiti Vandalism

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:29:00 -0500

More detail on worker suspects was not disclosed by Buffalo Bills stadium joint-venture contractor Gilbane-Turner.

Trump Announces Sweeping Kennedy Center Renovation Plan

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:50:24 -0500

President’s call for a sweeping renovation raises questions about funding, federal oversight and how much authority Congress will ultimately exert.

Private Funding May Deliver Trump’s White House Ballroom—but What Pays for the Rest?

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:15:24 -0500

As design review restarts, Trump’s planned White House ballroom exposes how privately funded additions can trigger federal obligations—and budget pressures—beyond their stated scope.

‘Buffalo Billion’ Corruption Cases in NY End With Industry Execs' Guilty Pleas

rubind@enr.com (Debra K. Rubin) — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 13:31:00 -0500

Former contractor Louis Ciminelli pleads to one count of wire fraud, was ordered to forfeit $1.6 million and paid a $250,000 fine, with two N.Y. developers and a former state academic chief also agreeing to deal.

Trump Media–TAE Merger Sets No Obligation to Build Fusion Plant

gottliebb@enr.com (Bryan Gottlieb) — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:15:57 -0500

The social media company's $6B merger with a nuclear fusion developer may bring new investment in the technology, but any construction is still a ways off.

Doosan Bobcat Sues Caterpillar, Alleges Infringement of 14 Equipment Patents

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 22:04:40 -0500

A lawsuit in U.S. federal court and a complaint to the International Trade Commission against Caterpillar and its largest Texas equipment dealer allege patent violations on machine controls, skid steer designs.

Lawsuit Alleges DBE Fraud on $3.6B Brent Spence Bridge Project

manniona@enr.com (Annemarie Mannion) — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 15:15:09 -0400

Jamir Davis, a Kentucky civil rights attorney has filed a lawsuit against Walsh- Kokosing JV, the Ohio Dept. of Transportation claiming he was shut out of a DBE role in the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project.

ICE Florida Jobsite Arrests Show Past Deportations and Charges

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 10:56:35 -0400

Six men have been indicted for illegal reentry into the U.S. and other actions after being arrested at a construction site in Tallahassee.

More Than 100 Arrested for Immigration-Related Violations at Tallahassee Construction Site

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 18:25:12 -0400

More than 100 people illegally in the U.S. were arrested at two Tallahassee, Fla., work sites May 29.

Massachusetts Contractor Pays $11M to Settle Illegal Dumping Charges in Rhode Island

Thu, 22 May 2025 18:38:59 -0400

Barletta Heavy Division Inc. settled with the state over illegal disposal of contaminated fill from the $410M 6/10 connector construction project.

Minnesota Firm Pays $1.3M to Settle Claim Over Faked Asphalt Tests

manniona@enr.com (Annemarie Mannion) — Wed, 21 May 2025 14:07:13 -0400

Paving company Anderson Brothers agreed to pay nearly $1.3 million to resolve allegations it knowingly falsified asphalt test results on state and federal projects.

Construction Restarts on $1.7B Bally's Casino in Chicago

manniona@enr.com (Annemarie Mannion) — Fri, 16 May 2025 13:30:00 -0400

Work paused due to use of an unauthorized vendor with alleged links previously to organized crime

Lawsuit Alleges Price Collusion Among United Rentals, Sunbelt, Rental Ratings Firm

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 20:23:05 -0400

Federal lawsuit seeks class action against RB Global, Rouse Services and several large U.S. equipment rental companies for illegally fixing construction equipment rental prices.

Michigan Bid-Rig Plea Lands Former Asphalt Paving Executive in Prison

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 18:17:36 -0400

Winner and loser pricing was orchestrated, prosecutors charged.

60-Ton, $500K Crane Is Stolen From Ohio Power Construction Site

manniona@enr.com (Annemarie Mannion) — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 11:45:00 -0400

Keys to Kenworth crane had been left in its cab, but machine's below-dashboard GPS and license plates were removed, say police.

Collapse of 33-Story Bangkok Tower During Earthquake Blamed on Substandard Construction

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 15:07:41 -0400

An initial investigation into the collapse of a government office tower under construction in Bangkok that killed 18 has turned up low-quality construction materials.

Chicago Contractor Charged in $325K Amtrak Bribery Scheme

manniona@enr.com (Annemarie Mannion) — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 16:33:00 -0400

Mark 1 Restoration owner was charged with bribing an Amtrak official and gaining $52M in change orders on now completed station renovation contract.

Viewpoint: Engineering and Construction Ethics Are Not Transactional

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Former chiefs of nine leading companies working in the U.S. and globally say the industry faces a more transactional environment that challenges ethical standards and could compromise corporate and practitioner accountability.

Surety Manager Who Sent Out Bond Claim Payments to Himself Is Sentenced

kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 18:05:46 -0400

A federal judge sentenced James Keating to 20 months in prison, plus restitution.

Minnesota Joins Suit by Fired Drywall Worker Who Reported Sexual Harassment and Rape

manniona@enr.com (Annemarie Mannion) — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 16:41:00 -0500

State agency supports employee victim's suit against Absolute Drywall, claiming it violated state law for enabling sexual harassment and rape by co-worker who pleaded guilty.

Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan Convicted of Conspiracy, Bribery and Wire Fraud

yodersj@enr.com (Jeff Yoders) — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 15:38:13 -0500

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was found guilty on 10 counts of bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy Feb. 12, while being acquitted of seven other counts and the jury deadlocked on six more.

Will Sneaky Georgia Bid-Rig Recordings Sink Lawsuit Defendants?

kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:19:28 -0500

Two brothers convicted of criminal charges in July are appealing the verdict.